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ZDNET's key takeaways
Spyware can track you, record calls, and steal phone data.
Watch for odd behavior, data spikes, unknown apps, and battery drain.
Use antivirus, update often, and avoid untrusted app sources.
Spyware is one of the top threats to your mobile security and can severely impact your handset's performance if you are unlucky enough to become infected. It is a type of malware that typically lands on your iPhone or Android phone through malicious mobile apps or through phishing links, emails, and messages.
While appearing to be a legitimate software package or useful utility, spyware will operate quietly in the background to monitor your movements, spy on your activities, and may also record your conversations, whether they are phone calls or social media threads. You may find your actions screenshotted, your call records logged, and even your physical location tracked via GPS.
Also: 7 ways to lock down your phone's security - before it's too late
This information is then sent to a remote server and into the hands of someone else without your permission.
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